This publication presents youth-led perspectives on the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE) as a fundamental human right and a practical framework for environmental justice, democratic participation, and public health. Developed within a Europe-based initiative supported by the Council of Europe, the document brings together legal research, advocacy, and lived experiences of young people engaged in environmental action.

Drawing on twelve local campaigns implemented across multiple countries, the publication demonstrates how the RtHE can be translated from legal principles into concrete, community-level action. The initiatives address key dimensions of the triple planetary crisis — pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss — through themes such as air and water quality, waste management, food systems, heatwaves, public health, and youth participation in decision-making. While the case studies are rooted primarily in European contexts, the conceptual framework is deliberately broader, emphasizing the universal relevance of environmental rights and their intersection with social justice, equity, and intergenerational responsibility.

The publication highlights the role of young people as active agents of change rather than passive stakeholders. It argues that meaningful youth participation, non-formal education, and locally driven solutions are essential for making environmental rights effective and durable. By combining legal analysis with grassroots practice, the document illustrates how environmental degradation disproportionately affects vulnerable communities and future generations, and why recognizing the RtHE is a necessary step toward systemic change.

Overall, the publication positions the Right to a Healthy Environment as a transregional and transferable framework, applicable beyond Europe and relevant to the wider Euro-Mediterranean context. It offers insights, lessons learned, and forward-looking recommendations for policymakers, educators, civil society actors, and youth movements committed to environmental justice and sustainable futures.